Enshine

Another collection focusing on epic metal masterpieces. This collection goes from symphonic death metal (Septicflesh) to progressive thrash (Vektor) to black metal roots leading into different directions (Tribulation, A Forest of Stars, Oranssi Pazuzu) and melodic metal (Atoma, Enshine).

Septicflesh’s Mad Architect is a brilliant unison of death metal and majestic, mentally symphonic orchestration with a chorus to die for. Truly an original kind of a death metal track fit such a fitting title.

Accelerating Universe is the finest piece of the world’s finest thrash metal band Vektor‘s first album. My statement may seem preposterous but Vektor. Is. The. Shit. I don’t say stuff like this lightly. Metal simply does not get much better. This is how you make modern thrash metal. Both of their albums are absolutely killer and 3rd one is coming up in May. My most anticipated release of 2016.

Apparitions is a true grower-type of a track. The ending track of Tribulations The Formulas of Death from 2013. Tribulation is yet another original band combining both black and death metal with progressive compositions. I admit it, I’m a sucker for original bands that compose brilliant music.

Drawing Down the Rain is the masterwork of A Forest of Stars. They embarked from black metal background but nowadays add psychedelia, melancholia and progressive elements with otherwordly lyrics. I wasn’t supposed to use the same band twice in collections this soon but Beware the Sword You Cannot See was one of the very best releases of 2015.

Hole in the Sky by Atoma somehow manages to be even more epicly tuned and majestic than its predecessors while being less metal.

Ympyrä on Viiva Tomussa, like Apparitions took me a while to grow. A brilliant way to sum up Oranssi Pazuzu is their first promo letter where they stated that (roughly translated from Finnish): “Oranssi Pazuzu makes churchburners and bluntburners hold each others hands”. They combine psychedelic elements with black metal; Ympyrä on Viiva Tomussa nears a shamanistic ritual.

It was supposed to be the closing track as it leaves me utterly empty, but I realized that the beautiful melodics of Constellation by Enshine actually light up the feelings instantly. After Slumber broke up in 2011, the members formed Atoma. However Jari Lindholm left and formed Enshine. It’s only natural to have them on same collection.

Did I say Epic Metal Collection I was my favourite. I feel that this one is even stronger, 100 % killer tracks.

Shape of Despair – Monotony Fields – I really wanted this to be awesome but its just good, allthough the first ~4 minutes of The Blank Journey are among my favourite metal moments this year.

Tribulation – The Children Of The Night

Pryapisme – Futurologie

Misþyrming – Söngvar elds og óreiðu (possible grower)

Ghost Bath – Moonlover

Possible growers that I haven’t listened enough

Swallow The Sun – Songs From The North II & III

Venetian Snares – Your Face

Arcturus – Arcturian

Paradise Lost – The Plague Within – I actually got a semi-kick out of it but then started listening to Tragic Idol and so far I haven’t seen any reason why to go back as Tragic Idol is so much better.

Carpenter Brut – Trilogy – Recently used it as background music for

Binding of Isaac Afterbirth and it worked really well in it, but haven’t tested longevity yet.

The Morningside – Letters from the Empty Towns

Opeth – Pale Communion

Mogwai – Music Industry 3. Fitness Industry 1.

Disappointments

Melechesh – Enki – Almost the whole album makes me want to fall asleep. I would use it as sleeping music if I wasn’t so annoyed that it is so fucking boring.

Last Step – Lost Sleep – Sideproject of Venetian Snares, I suppose Acid (genre) is not my thing.

Messer Chups – The Incredible Crocotiger – What happened to Messer Chups, they used to be so fun, merging b-movie clips and incredibly imaginative melodies with surf. Now they are just plain surf without any other flavours.
Lasten hautausmaa – Lasten hautausmaa – overhyped, yeah they aren’t bad but no they aren’t the new Mana Mana or even close.

Grave Pleasures – Dreamcrash – What a suitable name, after the surprise debut, still with the name Beastmilk, this album is so shy. All the great melodies and freshness are gone. Beastmilk was dangling on the edge of hipsterness and ridiculousness but miraculously avoiding it and being stunning. Grave Pleasures crashes headfirst, being both annoying and pretty good in every track. There may be a jewel there but I haven’t got to powerlistening this mess yet.
Trepaneringsritualen – Perfection & Permanence – Such a ridiculously bad album it created a time paradox and appeared in this list even though it’s been released in 2014.